Biomarker integration and clinical decision support for early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia

University of Warwick –Collaborative EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award.

Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (PhD)

Eligibility: UK Students

Award value: Tuition fees and tax-free stipend - See advert for details

Deadline: 13 April 2026

Supervisors: Professor Natasha Khovanova and Professor Dimitris Grammatopoulos

Biomarker integration and clinical decision support for early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia

Research area and project description:

Pre-eclampsia affects 1 in 10 pregnancies, yet diagnosis remains uncertain. This PhD will integrate clinical data and blood biomarkers to improve early detection and predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. You will develop and validate a data-driven clinical decision support tool in collaboration with clinicians and industry partners.

Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal complications worldwide, yet current diagnostic tools struggle to reliably confirm the disease. This project will use advanced data analysis and modelling approaches to transform how routinely collected clinical and biomarker data are interpreted in women with suspected pre-eclampsia.
You will analyse a large, well-characterised clinical dataset, integrating angiogenic markers (sFlt-1/PlGF) with inflammatory (IL-6), renal (Cystatin C), and cardiac (BNP) biomarkers, alongside routine blood tests and early-pregnancy clinical data. Using statistical modelling and machine learning techniques, you will identify patient subgroups, improve diagnostic accuracy, and develop a biomarker-based clinical decision support system to assist risk stratification and outcome prediction.

The project offers a unique interdisciplinary environment combining engineering, quantitative modelling, clinical medicine, and translational diagnostics. You will collaborate closely with clinicians and industry partners, access real-world healthcare data, and benchmark your decision support tool against an existing UKCA-certified digital diagnostic platform. This PhD is ideal for students motivated to develop clinically deployable tools that directly improve patient care.

Scholarship:

The award will cover the UK tuition fee level, plus a tax-free stipend, currently £21,805, paid at the prevailing UKRI rate for 3.5 years of full-time study. The award also includes a £5,000 research training support grant.

Eligibility:

Home students are eligible to apply. Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) a 1st/2.1 or Master’s degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Data Science, Mathematics, or a related field. Strong quantitative and programming skills are required. Interest in interdisciplinary research and developing clinical decision support tools is essential.

How to apply:

Candidates should submit an expression of interest by sending a CV and supporting statement outlining their skills and interests in this research area to https://www.warwick.ac.uk/engineeringscholarships/nk_epsrc/app. If this initial application is successful, we will invite you to submit a formal application.

Candidates must fulfil the University of Warwick entry criteria and obtain an unconditional offer before commencing enrolment.

Should your application for admission be accepted, you should be aware that notification of acceptance for the PhD does not constitute an offer of financial support. Successful scholarship candidates will receive an official communication to confirm their award.